It was September 2016 when my parter and I walked into our local Cats Protection shelter looking to adopt our first pet together. There were young families buzzing around the last remaining kittens, but my attention was immediately drawn to a two-year-old grey tabby with her peach nose edged in black. I scooped her up into my arms and knew instantly it could only be her. She oozed affection; her purr radiated through my soul. She’d just been returned to the shelter following a failed adoption because she didn’t get on with the family’s other cat. The sanctuary volunteers were hesitant to let her go, but finally decided she could come home with us. Nala had found her forever home.
It didn’t take long to understand exactly what Nala’s previous family meant when they said she didn’t get on with other cats. After tentatively exploring her new home, Nala spotted Aslan, a big ginger tom, through the patio windows. Her tail puffed up, her fur stood on end, and she launched herself at the window again and again, howling and shrieking. Even for someone who had grown up with cats, this was something new. And it didn’t stop there. Nala hated other cats, especially toms. Next door’s cat once found himself cornered in our living room and wet himself in a panic as he ducked and dived to get past Nala. He learned not to come around after that.
